Jake Kates

Position:
RHP/UT
Height:
6-3
Weight:
200
Class:
Redshirt Junior
Hometown:
Cincinnati, Ohio

Year at WKU: 3 | Year in College Baseball: 5 | Eligibility Remaining: 2

WKU Dean’s List (Spring 2021)
WKU President’s List (Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020)

2021 (Redshirt Sophomore): Appeared in 15 games on the mound while making 13 starts … Went 3-4 with a 5.45 ERA in 76.0 innings of action … Ranked fourth in Conference USA and led the team with 89 strikeouts … Tied for second on the team with nine starts of 5.0 innings or more … Recorded a complete-game shutout against Marshall (4/9) while striking out eight batters and allowing just five hits … Struck out a career-high 13 batters while surrendering just two runs in 6.0 frames against Valparaiso (3/19) … Recorded 11 strikeouts while allowing just four hits and one run in 7.0 innings against Cincinnati (2/26).

*2020 (Redshirt Sophomore): Made six appearances on the mound for the Hilltoppers … Went 2-0 with one save and a 1.04 ERA … Recorded 29 strikeouts in 17.1 innings … Produced a .94 WHIP while holding opponents to a .161 batting average … Ranked first on the team in strikeouts and third in innings pitched … Ranked 17^th in the nation and first in Conference USA with 15.06 strikeouts per nine innings … Produced eight strikeouts in 3.0 innings against Valpo (2/17) while allowing just one hit and no runs … Earned a win against Wright State (2/21) while whiffing eight batters and not allowing a run in 4.2 frames … Recorded a win at USC Upstate (3/1) while striking out seven batters in 4.0 innings of action … Picked up a save against Purdue (3/6) while recording four strikeouts in 4.0 frames of hitless ball.

At Gulf Coast State College: Redshirted.

At High Point: Lettered during his lone season with the team.

At Lakota West HS: Lettered three years in baseball … School record holder in career and season ERA … First Team All-State and two-time First Team All-Conference honoree … Named the Conference and City Player of the Year as a senior … Team advanced to the Final Four in the State Championships during his senior season.

Personal Info: Born December 21, 1998 in Cincinnati, Ohio … Son of Rick and Lori … Has one brother, Drew … Majoring in Marketing at WKU … Biggest thrill in sports was advancing to the Final Four of the State Championships in his senior year of high school … Favorite athlete is Christian Yelich because he’s sick … Chose WKU because the facilities and campus are awesome … Hobbies include playing video games and other sports.

* The 2020 season did not count against athletic eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.